Perfect Pet-friendly Staycation at the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa

Discover the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa

After our recent move to the Marina District, my husband and I needed a getaway. We both needed a break from packing boxes, unpacking boxes, or even looking at boxes. A little staycation was in order for some much-needed rest and relaxation. We didn’t want to add the stress of planning much and also wanted to bring our dog Robby along, so a pet-friendly hotel in San Diego was what we were looking for. The newly reopened Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa checked all our boxes and then some.

Just over 30 miles from San Diego, Carlsbad is the perfect little San Diego staycation getaway and the Westin Carlsbad is a great choice, whether you want a choke-full itinerary, go to the Carlsbad Flower Fields, Legoland, or do nothing but sleep in, lay on the pool, and let the staff pamper you.

View over rounded pool with the sun breaking over the horizon and the yellow Mediterranean style hotel building to the right — The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa

Disclaimer: Common to the travel industry, the hotel hosted me for my stay and a meal at 20/Twenty Grill. However, this does not influence my overall review.

Location

Located on the top of the hill between Legoland Carlsbad, Premium Outlets, and the Carlsbad Flower Fields in the West, and The Crossings Golf Course in the East, you can enjoy spectacular sunsets and a coastal breeze year-round.

The location is convenient and close to many of the attractions in Carlsbad and the view over the hilly coastline and the Pacific Ocean in the distance makes for stunning sunset views. I personally loved the peace and quiet up on the hill, while still being able to reach all the attractions within a couple of minutes by car.

Sunset over the pool and property of The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa — The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa

To get around, you can either take advantage of the complimentary 1-hour bike rental (can be extended for a fee), and the hotel shuttle that can drop you off/pick you up anywhere within a 5-mile radius. We took advantage of the shuttle to take us to Carlsbad Village. After our massage and some shopping at the cute little shops, we simply called the front desk to send the shuttle to pick us up again. Super simple and very convenient.

Amenties

This 4 Star Hotel in Carlsbad offers all that you need in a hotel. The service during our stay was really great and the front desk and concierge were always happy to answer all of our questions and make good recommendations for our time at The Westin Resort & Spa. Here are some of their top amenities:

Pool & Jacuzzi (both accessible)
Fitness Studio
1 Hour Free Bike Rental
Ocean Pearl Spa
Onsite restaurants

Free (pet-friendly) Hotel Shuttle to any destination within 5 miles
E-Car Charging Station (for a fee)
Babysitting
Convenience shop with snacks and coffee bar

Covered seating in the courtyard at the Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa — Westin Carlsbad

Lobby Entrance at the Westin Carlsbad with covered parking and large round chandelier — Westin Carlsbad

Additional Info

Resort Fee: $24/night includes the use of hotel amenities, including self-parking, pool, fitness center, bike rental, complimentary coffee in the lobby, coffee and water in the guest rooms, and much much more.

How to get there

Closest Airport: Palomar Airport (within shuttle pickup distance). San Diego Airport, John Wayne Airport, and Long Beach Airport are also within approximately 30-1h 15min drive from the hotel.

By Train: The Amtrak Station in Carlsbad Village is the closest train station and within the pickup radius of the Westin shuttle.

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By Car: From the 5, take the Exit Palomar Airport Road, then head East. Turn left on The Crossings Drive and left again on Grand Pacific Drive until you see the Westin on the right hand side.

Blue sign reading "Carlsbad" over the street in Carlsbad Village with a historic Victorian House in the background — Carlsbad Village Staycation

Pet Info

1 Dog up to 80lbs per room is welcome at The Westin Carlsbad.

Pet fee: $25/night (maximum $150/stay)
Complimentary amenities: The Westin Heavenly® Dog Bed, food and water bowls on a mat, pet napping door hanger, and a pet welcome kit with lots of helpful tips and ideas for your pet-friendly staycation at the Westin.

Robby, a brown and white large dog looking to the left with Westin dog bowls and dog bed in the background — Robby loved his “welcome kit” at the Westin Carlsbad

20/Twenty Grill

Usually, my husband and I don’t eat at hotel restaurants when we are out traveling. Maybe a quick room service meal, when we get in late. But when I told my foodie-friend Noreen (she also writes for this website) that I will be eating at 20/Twenty Grill, she was ecstatic for me and said: “20/20 is amazing!” And boy, was she right. The food was absolutely amazing and the service on point (Thank you, Erica!). We had such a great time, that we went back the next night as well.

Oh, and did I mention that their patio is pet-friendly? Robby had a great time there too. The whole wait staff cooed over him and somehow Robby convinced us to share our steaks with him. Who could resist those big brown puppy eyes???

The menu is small but delicious. The steaks were cooked to perfection and I am still dreaming of those side dishes. Harissa-glazed carrots, sautéed wild mushrooms, truffle mac&cheese, mushroom risotto, and a quinoa burrata salad. As a passionate home cook, I love it when I can “collect” inspiration for some recipes when I am eating out and I can’t wait to re-create some of those dishes here at home.

yellow and orange carrots with grill marks and parsley spinkled on top in a dark ceramic bowl

quinoa salad with oranges and beets and a large burrata cheese in the center and a bowl of mushroom soup in the background (blurred)

Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa – Final Verdict:

Greg, Robby, and I had a great time at the Westin Carlsbad! We loved how easy-going and welcoming they were with Robby and that he was allowed in most areas of the resort. The special welcome kit was also a nice and welcoming touch.

I also really liked the modern and yet classy decor and the lush landscaping. I wish we had had more time to sit at the pool and enjoy the cozy sofas with fireplaces in the covered Palm Court area.

One thing that I noticed was that housekeepers seemed to have forgotten some small things in our room, like shampoo and conditioner and the do-not-disturb sign. It was easily remedied though when I mentioned it to them and they brought the items right away. Later, I found out that this is part of the current sanitation protocol to reduce touch-points and keep guests safe. As this was my first hotel stay since March of last year, I had no idea. Great to know that Westin is following these procedures to a T. Definitely made me feel better to know that.

I also loved the location of the Westin Carlsbad. Usually, I want to be in the heart of the action. But that makes it sooo hard to just sit back and relax and do NOTHING. Yes, I admit it, FOMO gets to me when I travel, even if it is just up the road to Carlsbad. But the Westin is far enough, so I can enjoy my lazy hours at the pool guilt-free, yet near enough that the free shuttle lets me go out and explore. And I don’t even have to worry about parking and can enjoy an adult beverage or two. It’s a win-win!

We had a really great time at the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa and can’t wait to come back for another relaxing staycation in Carlsbad!

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